Artificial ear-drum.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

A. LBERS. ARTIFICIAL BAR DRUM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1906.

Snuenfoz Zea/w c/ZraZa/i/ THE mamas PErERs c(-., \vasumaran, u. c.

ABRAHAM LEERS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ARTIFICIAL EAR-DRUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed April 28,1906. Serial No. 314,222.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM Lnnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county oi Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Ear Drums, oi? which the following is a specification.

My invention relates. to artificial eardrums and its primary object is to provide a novel and highly-useful device oi. this character adapted to be inserted into the ineatus externus and placed into engagement with the membrana tympani andconstructed of animal skin or membrane, which, owing to its inherent qualities of semitransparency, delicacy of fiber, and smoothness, is sensitive to the slightest vibrations and which, owing to its engagement with the membrana tympani, renders an injured membrana tympani sensitive to the slightest vibration.

A i urther object or the invention is to pro vide a novel and highly-useful device by means or which the eardruni may be mserted into the ineatus externus and placed into engagement with the membrana tympani without the slightest injury 'to either.

The invention consists of the construction. combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved invention, illustrating the manner in which the artificial ear-drum is held upon the inserting instrument for application and illustrating the inserting instrument in central longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ear-drum. Sig. 3 is a similar view of the inserting instrument, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the instrument for retaining the eardrum in position upon the inserting instrument.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 designates an artificial ear-drum, which is constructed of animal skin or mem brane and which in contour resembles that of the membrana tympani. The ear-drum has a thickness about equal to that ofthe membrana tympani, and it is suitably treated to render it thoroughly antiseptic, so that it will not injure or irritate the membrana tympani. The ear-drum has suitably secured thereto a silk thread 2, by means of which it is held upon the inserting instrument and by means of which it may be removed from the meatus eXtcrnus when desired. This thread I I I is of a length a little shorter than that of the meatus eXternus, so that it will not project therefrom, whereby it will be impossible to dislodge the ear-drum accidentally.

The ear-drum is applied by means oi an inserting instrument 3, which comprises a tube t or length greater than that of the meatus externus and a shorter tube 5, which is secured to the tube l near its outer end in parallel relation therewith. The inner end of the tube 5 is spaced from the inner end of the tube 4 sufficiently to permit the tube 4 to be inserted into the meatus externus sufiiciently to place the ear-drum against the membrane, tympani. This instrument is constructed of any material suitable for the purpose and is preferably transparent. In applying the ear-drum to the instrument for application the ear-drum is placed against the inner end oi the tube A and the thread 2 is placed within said tube. The ear-drum is held thus applied to the tube 4. by means of a member 6, which is constructed of a single strand of wire termed to provide along arm? and a short arm 8, said arms being united by means ct a spring-coil 9, which retains the arms normally separated. The longer arm is adapted to be inserted into the tube 4 and has its i'ree end flattened for engagement with the thread 2, while the shorter arm 8 is adapted to be inserted into the tube 5. As the arms have to be contracted torinsert on into the tubes, their inner ends are held impinged against the inner walls of the tubes by means of the spring-coil 9, and as the end of the arm 7 is adapted to be placed into engagement with the thread 2 all liability of the ear-drum becoming accidentally displaced from the tube 4 is obviated.

hen it is desired to apply the ear-drum, it is secured to the inserting instrument in the manner above pointed out, and it is held applied thereto by means of the member 6 in the manner above pointed out. Vith the ear-drum thus applied the same is inserted into the meatus externus and placed against the membrana tympani, after which the arms of the member 6 are compressed, thus releasing the thread 2 and permitting the removal of the tube 4 from the meatus eXternus. In view of the member 6 it is possible to use the thread 2 of a length less than the length of the meatus eXternus, as it is not necessary to use a thread having a length sufficient to permit it to pass fully through the inserting instrument and grasped by the fingers in order to retain the ear-drum in position upon the inserting instrument for application. In view of the transparency of the inserting instrument the end of the arm 7 may be easily and quickly brought into engagement With the thread 2.

In view of the fact that animal skin or membrane possesses the qualities of semitransparency, delicacy of fiber, smoothness, and sensitiveness to air-vibrations it closely resembles the construction of the membrana tympani, and in view thereof its use intensifies air vibrations and transmits such vibrations to the membrana tympani. It should be thus apparent that I provide an artificial ear-drum which Would enable a person hav ing defective hearing to hear the slightest sounds.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, What I claim is 1. In a device of-the character described, the combination of an artificial ear-drum provided With a thread, a tube by Which the ear-drum may be inserted into the meatus externus and placed against the membrana tympani, and means for engaging said thread to retain the ear-drum applied to the tube for application.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an artificial ear-drum provided With a thread, a tube by Which the ear-drum may be inserted into the meatus externus and placed against the membrana tympani, and a spring means for engaging the thread to retain the eardrum upon the tube for application.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of an artificial ear-drum provided With a thread, a tube provided with a shorter tube, the longer tube being adapted to ins-art the ear-drum into the meatus eX ternus and place it against the membrana tympani, and a member comprising springarms, one of said arms being inserted into longer tube and engaging the thread to retain the ear-drum upon the longer tube for application, the other of said spring-arms being inserted into the shorter tube.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of an artificial ear-drum, and a transparent tube for inserting said eardrum into the meatus eXternus and against the membrana tympani.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of an artificial ear-drum consisting of a disk of animal skin or membrane, and a transparent tube by Which the ear-drum may be inserted into the meatus eXternus and placed against the membrana tympani.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination With an artificial ear-drum, of a tube by which the ear-drum may be inserted into the meatus externus and placed against the membrana tympani, a thread secured to the ear-drum, said thread being shorter than the tube, and means adapted to engage the thread to retain the ear-drum applied to the tube for application.

In testimony whereof I- affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ABRAHAM LEERS.

Witnesses:

W. C. CARTER, J. D. SEWARD. 

